Agreed Capt Phoenix; why they would allow a 2nd mate unlimited go master 1600/3000 is a dangerous pathway, from an often not always “paper mate” on a ship with virtually no boat or shiphandling experience or expertise except as a “hand puppet” operating the throttle repeating commands from pilot/master and going to a vessel increasingly sophisticated that many unlimited crowd still look down their noses on, is a bad idea and hopefully moderated by hiring company assessments. It is probably due to the existing pathway from master limited crossing over to third mate, which is a much more sensible route as the third will be observed in daylight hours and on deck and after sailing master on substantial tonnage vessels. I don’t want to totally knock the reciprocal crossover however as that is the way I and many other “oil field trash” mariners [a term of endearment which I am proud of] slid into the sainted large unlimited vessel sector!
Sorry for the above post I obviously digressed from topic.
That’s not it. Master 1600 takes 4 years of total experience, with one year as mate. 2nd Mate takes one year as 3rd Mate, which takes 3 years on deck. So a second mate takes the same sea time as Master 1600.
Are there any opportunities for a person with a marine transportation degree shore side?
What is the better the difference Marine engineering and Marine engineering technology?
Roger I was not disputing that the timelines were similar/same. Rather the situation a 2nd mate would find themselves in as master on limited tonnage vessel would be a seismic shift from being a deck officer on a substantial ship. The master ltd going unlimited would have a learning curve as well, but would be in a position to grow into their position under observation to a much greater degree
I graduated in 2018 from Mass, Marine Transportation, and when I couldn’t find a 3rd Mate job I applied to a lot of places ashore, shipping companies mostly, and got interviews and a few offers but ended up finding a job shipping. When an employer looks at the resume and it says “(insert state) Maritime Academy” it gives them an idea of your work ethic and the type of person you are regardless of what the degree you hold is. Besides, you’re still a fresh college graduate like everyone else. The difference is you did 4 years at a school that wasn’t like most others and instilled in you attention to detail, dealing with adversity, and leadership. If you’re really a dedicated kid who’s worried about a job shoreside and want to go deck, you can minor in International Maritime Business at Mass. Tough to accomplish but it can definitely be done. Feel free to message me about any questions. I hated school when I was there, but as the saying goes “it’s a shitty place to be, but a great place to be from”
That’s exactly my point. 3rd Mate and 2nd Mate are the same job on a jones act tanker swapping safety inspections for bridge paperwork and ECDIS updates. Not working the bridge or control room solo unless it’s the middle of a transfer or sea watch. The company won’t bump you up to C/M without at least 5 years service as 2/M and 3/M. That’s a real jump. 3M to 2M isn’t.
A Marine Engineering degree from most if not all the schools is a ABET accredited degree. The Marine Engineering Technology degree is not ABET accredited and is considered more of a practical hands-on type of degree.
I fixed it for you.
46 CFR 11.412
“Two years of the required service must have been as a master or mate of self-propelled vessels, or master or mate (pilot) of towing vessels”
Master 1,600 GRT is equivalent to Chief Mate Unlimited by time as OICNW.
Did you? 46 CFR 11.412(a)(2):
One year of service on vessels of more than 100 GRT on ocean or near-coastal waters as a master or mate of self-propelled vessels, or master or mate of towing vessels while holding a license or MMC endorsement as mate of ocean self-propelled vessels of less than 1,600 GRT or as master or mate of towing vessels.
Beer captain ,you get it.
Yes.
That license requires one year as mate to get so in order to have one year sailing on that license you have to have a minimum of two years as mate. (Most likely more since it takes time after you get your year of sea time to apply, test, and be issued your oceans.)
This is the only way around the requirement to have a minimum of two years as mate to get master 1,600 other than the second mate crossover and I doubt it’s used very frequently. Neither should be allowed as one year of sea time as mate is barely enough to hold a competent watch in traffic, let alone be Master.
Sorry, I was just consolidating it all into one post.
Nice perspective Swamp assassin. No disrespect to the other schools which are quite alright, but was not bashful to my sons fellow classmates that were welcome in my home from the engine department. I had a sweet spot for Maine Maritime engineers that rode on my vessel. They served me well.
Mass has a million clubs all funded by the student government association. Not sure why the tour guide would have told you otherwise. Maine’s Indoc is shorter than two weeks? Wild.
Beer Captain, you also have some valid points to offer, this young fellow is doing the research. Good for him. My few Mass guys were pretty sharp too. Been around a long time. I knew future talent when I saw it. Did not look down my nose because they were newbies, at some point or another. We all started somewhere. They just wanted a shot with a fair opportunity without bias. If they didn’t perform in a positive manner, I was not their friend, regardless what school they came from. When they made an effort, I was very involved in their moving up. No favorites.
@SwampAssassin, Thanks for the reply. Based on the research I have done so far, Maine seems like a good option for me. If would appreciate any insight into their admission process and what your gpa/sat was if you do not mind sharing. Thanks!
You will not have any problem at all getting into Maine Maritime with your GPA. Swamp Assassin is telling it like it is. I’ve been there for a couple of company seminars, it is in the middle of nowhere. I see you play football, their team runs the option, and would be a nice distraction from your studies if you made the team. Again, I never met an engineer from there that was not well respected in the industry. Many moons ago I had two cadets from there riding my vessel, unfortunately we got tagged by a minor hurricane “Juan” that had a crazy,unpredictable path. They did just fine. One of them was a football player named “Eric” . I was in our office some years later and the dispatcher said I have a package. “Eric” remembered I liked to collect hats and sent me one from his office in Houston. He transitioned from boats to shoreside and was working with a respected oil broker.
If you’re going for 3/M instead of 3/AE go to SUNY or Texas. Those are both well connected with the two major shoreside job centers, New York City and Houston. Be prepared for not getting a 3/M job out of school. Maine isn’t close to anything, and in a competitive market a NYC/Stamford ship brokerage shop, owner/charterer likely has SUNY grads in the office and may recruit from SUNY first. My buddy from KP (19 grad) is a bunker trader in Stamford. No chance he would be in that spot if he was from outside the NY/NJ/CT area.